Meteorologist

Summary

This Meteorologist position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GS‑1340‑11/12 working in Missoula, MT. This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R6‑26‑‑WA‑MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

As a Meteorologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Develops interagency program direction for fire weather products, smoke dispersion forecasts and services and monitoring systems sufficient to establish baseline information to improve fire weather and smoke management programs.
• Monitors and advises federal and state wildland fire agencies on quality control activities for the express purpose of ensuring the integrity of all weather observations provided by and for the wildland fire agencies including wildland fire agency owned automated weather stations.
• Conducts analyses to determine adequacy of skill and knowledge levels of wildland fire users and identifies shortages.
• Integrates all available meteorological data available, synoptic and meso‑scale levels, to analyze, assess, and forecast weather pertinent to smoke dispersion.
• Reviews and determines adherence to regulations and instructions included in operational plans, monitors the condition, adequacy and viability of weather data collection equipment, systems, and personnel.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Education:
Positive Education Requirement plus at least one year of Specialized Experience or combination.

A.
Degree: Meteorology, Atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included:

• 1. At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of credit in meteorology/atmospheric science including a minimum of: a. Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics; b. Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale); c. Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and d. Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation.
• 2. Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.
• 3. Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.
• 4. At least nine semester hours of coursework appropriate for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography, physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and computer science.

There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for coursework in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑09 in the Federal service. Example specialized experience may include:

• Produces and delivers meteorological products and briefings that provide operational guidance for decision‑making in fire management or safety‑critical operations, while operating effectively as part of a team with diverse interagency partners and audiences.
• Monitors fire environment systems and data networks, ensuring operational integrity, reliability, and compliance with national standards and agency protocols.
• Participates in interagency coordination during high‑impact weather events,…